www.guffguelph.cawww.guffguelph.ca

GUFF

A H e a l t h y &A H e a l t h y &G r e e n G u e l p hG r e e n G u e l p h

Guelph Urban Guelph Urban Forest FriendsForest Friends

Guelph Urban Forest Friends (GUFF)

We are a group of citizens working, through education and advocacy, to maintain and increase the health, integrity and area of Guelph’s urban forest.

Purpose of presentationPurpose of presentation

To outline the issues harming To outline the issues harming trees in an urban environmenttrees in an urban environment

To recommend ways to protect To recommend ways to protect Guelph’s treesGuelph’s trees

How trees benefit a cityHow trees benefit a city Improve air qualityImprove air quality Combat climate changeCombat climate change Reduce UV exposureReduce UV exposure Reduce energy needsReduce energy needs Reduce run-offReduce run-off Enhance groundwater Enhance groundwater

rechargerecharge Increase property valueIncrease property value Provide habitatProvide habitat Support health and well-Support health and well-

being being Contribute to community Contribute to community

heritageheritage

Two similar homes. The house on the left has significantly decreased heating & air conditioning costs, lowering energy demand

Removing a healthy tree means less water infiltration and more run-off, degrading water resources with pollution and sediment

“A study in Charlottesvile, VA showed that when tree cover dropped by8% between 1976 – 2000 the amount of run-off increased by 19%”GRCA Forester Virginia Gauley, GRCA Watershed Report

Trees stabilize the amount of after-storm river flow“Our city needs a stable amount of river water for wastewater management” GRCA Watershed Report “Investing in Trees”

Current Current development and development and construction construction practices are practices are damaging for treesdamaging for trees

Urban conditionscan be tough ontrees

Roots are being suffocated

Victoria Road, branches have been removed… prior to final cut

Victoria Road, heritage home saved… heritage trees removed

Places to Grow will bring thousands of new homes to Guelph

This infill lot between two houses has 13 healthy trees

This is the same infill lot. All mature trees have been removed, including two on city property

Same property. Now has increased storm water runoff, higher energy demand and reduced groundwater infiltration

Root destruction Root destruction must be avoided must be avoided during constructionduring construction trees must be trees must be

protected within protected within their driplinetheir dripline

Urban conditionscan be tough ontrees

Constructionon Dublin Street

A tree bylaw would protect this tree to the driplineWill this tree be here in five years?

A tree bylaw would protect this tree tooWill this tree be here in five years?

.

Soil compaction significantly damages tree root systems

Damaged roots mean starvation and early death

Urban conditions can be tough on trees

Cutting roots Cutting roots during during construction construction increases the increases the risk of topplingrisk of toppling

http://www.mass.edu/urbantree/hazard

Newly planted trees are often forgottenLack of water and protective guards results in greater than 50% loss

An ambient temperature of 26 degrees can increase to 48-55 degrees on paved surfaces. The effects on health are considerable.

Shade for Good Health and a Green City, Toronto 2007

Best practices include shading paved surfaces

Park and yard maintenance can lead to significant damageand shortened life

19911991 tree by-law must be revised "in order to control the number of tree by-law must be revised "in order to control the number of

trees, woodlots & habitat destroyed annually by development"  trees, woodlots & habitat destroyed annually by development"  ((Park Naturalization PolicyPark Naturalization Policy))

19941994 "Methods for protecting trees from development should be "Methods for protecting trees from development should be

developed" (developed" (Green PlanGreen Plan))

20032003 Environmental Action PlanEnvironmental Action Plan recommends tree inventory, updating recommends tree inventory, updating

tree by-law to protect natural features and developing guidelines tree by-law to protect natural features and developing guidelines to protect trees during constructionto protect trees during construction

Aboud reportAboud report recommends hiring a professional forester with a recommends hiring a professional forester with a degree in forestry or arboriculturedegree in forestry or arboriculture

Guelph’s history of arboreal inactionGuelph’s history of arboreal inaction

20052005 Council resolutionCouncil resolution asking staff to prepare funding request for urban asking staff to prepare funding request for urban

forest study and tree maintenance programforest study and tree maintenance program

20072007 ““A biodiverse city with the highest tree canopy among comparable A biodiverse city with the highest tree canopy among comparable

cities” (cities” (Strategic Plan Goal 6.6Strategic Plan Goal 6.6

October, October, Staff reportStaff report states that “ states that “Urban Forest Management PlanUrban Forest Management Plan will will be finalized with details for implementation and be presented to council be finalized with details for implementation and be presented to council in first quarter of 2008”in first quarter of 2008”

November, November, Council resolutionCouncil resolution that staff report back following the that staff report back following the visioning process with cost estimate for visioning process with cost estimate for Urban Forest Management Urban Forest Management PlanPlan

20082008 January, Council approves January, Council approves Strategic Urban Forest Management PlanStrategic Urban Forest Management Plan

as a priorityas a priority

Guelph’s history of arboreal inactionGuelph’s history of arboreal inaction

20092009 Guelph is still losing trees and canopy due to Guelph is still losing trees and canopy due to no no

urban forest plan or protective tree by-lawurban forest plan or protective tree by-law

18 years of inaction on many plans has removed 18 years of inaction on many plans has removed thousands of trees from our canopythousands of trees from our canopy

Established urban forestry guidelines recommend Established urban forestry guidelines recommend 40% tree canopy for cities to reduce the negative 40% tree canopy for cities to reduce the negative effects of climate change on air quality and healtheffects of climate change on air quality and health

Guelph is currently less than 25% canopyGuelph is currently less than 25% canopy

Guelph’s history of arboreal inactionGuelph’s history of arboreal inaction

What our city needs to doWhat our city needs to do

Many cities have Many cities have stronger tree bylaws stronger tree bylaws than Guelph than Guelph including:including: TorontoToronto MississaugaMississauga WaterlooWaterloo Richmond HillRichmond Hill KingstonKingston OakvilleOakville BarrieBarrie ~260 year old Maple

What our city needs to doWhat our city needs to do

Pass an Pass an interim tree bylawinterim tree bylaw without further without further delay to provide the oversight and control we delay to provide the oversight and control we need to stop further loss of canopyneed to stop further loss of canopy

What our city needs to doWhat our city needs to do Complete the Complete the

Strategic Urban Strategic Urban Forest Management Forest Management PlanPlan trees should be seen trees should be seen

as green infrastructure as green infrastructure and have value and and have value and prominence in all prominence in all development projectsdevelopment projects

connect trees to water conservation & efficiency

Bullring, University of Guelph

What our city needs to doWhat our city needs to do

Establish an Urban Forestry Department hire a certified forester

a 2003 City of Guelph a 2003 City of Guelph report (Aboud and report (Aboud and Associates Inc.) Associates Inc.) recommended that recommended that successful tree successful tree management requires a management requires a professional with professional with college or university college or university credentials in forestry credentials in forestry or arboricultureor arboriculture

Bullring, University of Guelph

What our city needs to doWhat our city needs to do

Form an Urban Forest Advisory Committee a 2007 City Report

recommendation lets protect and

develop our green infrastructure as seriously as our grey infrastructure

trees are public assets with benefits for all Bullring, University of Guelph

Before more trees are removed…. In 2009 …give the citizens now and in the future, a gift to remember!

Summary:Summary: Pass an interim tree Pass an interim tree

bylawbylaw Establish an Urban

Forestry Department Hire a certified

forester Form an Urban Forest

Advisory Committee

What our city needs to doWhat our city needs to do

Kate, Aged 8

Lets Keep Guelph’s Urban ForestLets Keep Guelph’s Urban ForestGreen And GrowingGreen And Growing